Felicia lost 57 pounds

Update 2018: Shout out to Felicia. She lost 61 pounds and has kept it off for 7 year with exercise and healthy eating habits.

You still have to stay motivated and know that your weight can be maintained through the proper channels of healthy eating and exercising. Since you last heard from me, I have only been losing inches and adding weightlifting to my regimen. I lost 61 pounds 7 years ago and I have been able to maintain since then. Recently, I became a grandmother and I am full of energy to run and workout with my grandson. I’ll be 43 years old in July, and I’m looking forward to more years to come. Instagram: @focus_inspo

Update April 2016 – Felicia has lost 10 more pounds since we featured her in Sept 2015, for a total of 67 pounds gone.

It’s 7 months later. I wanted to share that since I was featured in 2015, I have gotten inbox messages about how encouraging and inspiring this page is and that they see a little of themselves in someone like me. Hats off to this amazing, empowering movement. We must and have broken the cycle of unhealthiness and hereditary stigma that we have to live with health and weight issues. Women, like myself, that are over the age of 40 are looking and feeling well. I love it. Since my feature, I’ve been keeping my diet clean and doing strength training. I have lost an additional 10 lbs and gained 4lbs of muscles. I continue and encourage others to use your hashtag, #bwlw, on social media to help spread these ladies’ accomplishments/stories and to keep others uplifted. Instagram: @focus_vines

Sept 2015 – Weight Loss Story of the Day: Felicia lost 57 pounds. She just turned the big 40 but she is feels like she’s a twentysomething due to her new lifestyle and renewed energy. Clean eating, weight training and high intensity training has made the difference for her.  Check out what she shared with us about how she did it…

My name is Felicia V. and I just turned the big 40. Five years ago, I stood at 5’6″, 194 pounds and a size 14/16. I was tired of feeling sluggish, being constantly drained and having no energy. One day when I was playing in backyard with my daughter, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and couldn’t continue. I was 35 years old at the time and I realized that I had to make some changes.

I went cold turkey and started eating clean to change my eating habits because I wanted to live for my kids. My fried, fast food was traded in for lean meats. I turned from bad carbs to good carbs. My snicker bars were let go for fruit instead. My sweet tea and sodas turned into water and green tea.

I didn’t know anything about a gym when I started. High intensity workouts have become my best friend. I jumped rope, did squats, did jumping jacks, ran sprints, jump off and tree trunks.

I lost 42lbs in 5 months and then, over time, I’ve lost another 15 pounds and lots of inches by eating well and working out at least 4 times a week. Just last year, I incorporated weight and strength training into my life and I really began to see my body transform. Now, at 40 years old, I weigh 137 pounds and I’m a size 4. I am aging backwards and I have more energy. My daughter that I couldn’t keep up with is now a teenager and is in the gym getting pointers from me. I set new goals each year because I’m not where I want to be but I am glad I started. I am 40 years old, but I feel 20 years old.

My advice to others is trust your process and you will make progress. Take one day at time and know that it doesn’t happen overnight. Read, read and educate yourself on food choices and to find out what exercise will work that for you. Every body type is different. Grab a partner and have fun.